Here in Singapore, you need varied skills so you can be the best candidate in an ever changing and evolving world. When you say skill, it refers to the person’s ability to do something expertly. This will give the person edge over others and that is what companies here look for in an employee. Proving that you are a great asset to the company because you have this varied skill set is important.

It is not easy reinforcing skills. Actually, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) conducted a Manpower Talent Shortage Survey in 2014. The survey showed that many countries are having difficulty in finding qualified workers now. It is increasingly difficult to find qualified workers these days because of the advances in science and technology. Employers are actually having difficulties in matching the skills required for a particular job.

The survey concealed the following countries that face imminent shortage of skills:

Japan: Japan is at the top with 81% shortage of skills. If this trend continues overtime, the country will find it hard to cope with growing industrialization.

India: The next country is India with 64% shortage of skills.

Brazil: Brazil comes next to India with 63% shortage of skills.

Turkey: Turkey has a shortage of skills of about 63% like Brazil.

Mexico: Mexico has a shortage of skills of about 44%.

Greece: Greece is suffering a whopping 42% of shortage of skills like Mexico.

Australia: Australia is enduring a staggering 41% of shortage of skills.

Germany: Germany has a shortage of skills of about 40%.

United States: Like Germany, United States has a shortage of skills of about 40%.

Italy: Italy is also suffering from shortage of skills of about 34%.

Canada: As for Canada, it has a shortage of skills of about 31%.

China: China may have a billion of people but it is still short of skills – about 24%.

France: France has a shortage of skills about 21%.

United Kingdom: United Kingdom is enduring a shortage of skills of about 12%.

Spain: Spain has the lowest shortage of skills at 3%.

What does this tell you? Shortage of skills is a growing problem of employers. As an individual seeking for good career, you should not stop where you are now knowing about rapid globalization. You have to continuously improve yourself so employers will consider you. As for the employers and schools, they should also not stop training potential employees.

Skills can be taught and learned. It is not something that you are born with.